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laws at an early period; that those laws, or the major part of them, 
were brought in by the first Milesian or Iberno-Celtic colony ; or 
were soon after framed from national customs, and that they con- 
tinued to be the law of the land to the commencement of the seven- 
teenth century, without suffermg any material change in  conse- 
quence of the invasion of the Danes and Norwegians, at the latter 
end of the eighth century, or that of the Anglo-Normans. in the 
middle of the twelfth; it may be presumed, that a publication of 
them must infallibly furnish materials to the historian and antiquary, 
of more importance than, perhaps, any other European nation 
could supply. 
The Irish historians agree, that Ireland received colonies from 
Gaul and Britain, antecedent to the Scoto-Iberian colony under 
the sons of Gollamh (Gullav), or as he is otherwise called Mile 
Spaineach (the Spanish hero), from whom the ancient Irish families 
derive the name of Milesians. ‘These colonies, in process of time, 
became so intermixed as to form but one people, observing the same 
customs, and subject to the same laws. ‘The Irish Institutes must, 
therefore exhibit a picture of ancient Celtic manners, and throw more 
light on the history and antiquities of several ancient nations, and 
particularly those of Britain and Ireland than can, probably, be 
obtained from any other quarter. Several learned foreigners have 
declared, that a knowledge of the Irish language, and of Irish 
history, are necessary for the complete elucidation of the history and 
antiquities of ancient Celtic nations. Upon this subject the opinions 
of the late Doctor Johnson, and the late Edmund Burke, are so 
well known as to render quotations from them unnecessary. But it 
may not be improper to observe, that, if the Irish language and his- 
tory be necessary to elucidate the history of other ancient nations, 
the knowledge of the Irish laws is of much more importance ; as by 
